Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now about the spiritual gifts [the special endowments given by the Holy Spirit], brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. |
Subject: Am I ignorant |
Bible Note: Hi Jeff, I'm certain you already know these things, so I'll just give them by way of reminder . . . "Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various) kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way." 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 In this discussion of spiritual gifts, Paul speaks about the desire for these gifts, setting them in order, and encouraging the reader to "earnestly desire the greater gifts. And to me, that goes to the heart of this discussion. Should we want these things? Are they things that God wants for us? I want to want what God wants, and not what He doesn't. Paul supersedes that in the next passage: "If I . . . and have not love . . ." Its ok to want the greater gifts. Its better to simply love the body of Christ. And by love, I mean "sacrificial devotion to another's well-being", which is my understanding of "agape". I believe that as I am committed and devoted to serve you and help you in any way that I can, God will empower me to perform whatever works He wants me to do, including teaching supernaturally, giving, leading, healing, prophesying, and anything else. Its no accident that in each of the places that speak of the spiritual gifts, Scripture also speaks of humility, and servitude, and building up the body of Christ. I think its much more important to be concerned with how we can serve others than to be concerned with how God will make it happen. I can be open to whatever God wants to do. And in 1 Corinthians, and Romans, we find a number of those things named. And I find numerous assurances in Scripture that if I'm seeking to receive from God, He won't give me something bad. I've learned to trust Him to take care of me. Love in Christ, Mark |